Starting in October of 2015, all citizens and lawful residents were issued a number called a 個人番号 kojin bangō which is also colloquially called My Number, even by Japanese speaking people — マイナンバー. The numbers will basically be used as a “unique identifier” in a database, which is pretty much what it is.  This number is a unique identifier for civil services to tie any data and records being kept together and keeps everything associated with that number throughout the system. Americans definitely recognize this system, as we’ve been using our Social Security numbers as the defacto governmental unique identifier for over 70 years now.

Hard to believe, but Japan’s tax, health, pension, justice, land, education, immigration, and other civil management bodies are very disparate when it comes to the data that is collected by them, and never shared. If you’ve ever gone to a city hall in Japan and had to pay both residential and personal property tax and wondered why you were made to fill out two of the same looking forms and hand them to two different people in the same building, there’s your answer. As far as non-citizen expats go, Japan’s Immigration Service requires you to have this number whenever you renew your visas, and since 2018, all employers and banks require it since national, prefectural and local taxes can be verified online with the number.

So it’s really important to have, and by now you already have it if you’re living in Japan since it’s a necessity to even have a job here. But the number itself is not the whole system; in order to have the full benefit of My Number, you’re going to need the proper card too.

How to get a “My Number” card

You may be saying to yourself, “I already have this green and white card I got from City Hall so I’m good.” But that’s not the actual “card”. That paper card is actually just the “Notification Card” and isn’t really meant to be used as official ID. (I know, I know, why send the fake card telling you to get the real card, when they could just tell you to get the real card and then the fake card wouldn’t be needed… Japan, amirite?)

When you get this notice, it’s actually intended to be a temporary reminder of your issued number and you are meant to go to your closest City Hall and apply for the real plastic My Number Card. This process is much easier now since you can use a smartphone app and do the whole process. Of course, if you are old school, you can head back to City Hall and do it there too.

 

While the above was true for a number of years, Japan seems to have finally realized how confusing this system is. They are no longer issuing the green and white “Notice Cards” and are instead sending application forms directly to your home. These forms will arrive from your local ward office with a My Number Notice, My Number Card Application, and an Application Return envelope included. (For those wanting to confirm the Japanese they will be labeled as個人番号通知書、個人番号カード交付申請書 and 個人番号カード交付返信用封筒 respectively.) Fill out the forms and return them in the enclosed envelope along with an ID picture and send it off to the My Number Card Center (個人番号カード交付申請書受付センター). If you need help getting the right photo, look no further than the photo booths often found at train and subway stations; these have a setting for My Number Cards ready to go.

 

However you choose, you’ll get a notice in about a month (yay, more postcards!) telling you to go to City Hall in-person with your residence card or driver’s license and pick it up. While you’re there, you’ll make a password and PIN for the card, because now you’ve unlocked the true merit of the My Number Card: Convenience.

 

Saves both time and money.

Because the My Number card has not only your picture and official address printed on it, but carries a magnetic stripe, IC chip and NFC chip inside as well, meaning you can use it in a lot more situations:

  • Your new My Number Card is now an official photo ID since it also expires usually on whatever date your visa expires. (So please remember to update your My Number Card when you renew your visa or change status!)
  • Depending on your locality, you can get many official documents my using the machines at many convenience stores. Say goodbye to having to take a day off from work just to go to a municipal office and get your juminjyo and certified inhan-shomeisho when you need to register a car or renew a lease.
  • You can participate in the “My Number Points” discount scheme, where if you enroll your ID number and preferred cash card/QR app, you can receive a sales tax discount in the form of points rebated back to you.
  • You can use your NFC enabled smartphone and your PIN number to access many personal documents and info collected through certain applications, and even file your taxes this way.
  • In the future (date unknown), the number may be linked to your bank accounts in Japan and your social insurance; employment insurance, health insurance, and pension and replace all these individual cards and accounts as well.

There are obvious security concerns related to this new system. The government of Japan is taking slow but certain steps to implement the system in phases with the appropriate level of consideration for everyone’s privacy.